Unsheathed

The man in ragged clothes who had been sleeping in the stone cave beside the mountain stream just then casually shook his sleeves, causing the stream water to surprisingly roll off and plop back into the stream like a string of snow-white beads. He smiled and asked, "Things have already come to this, so what do you say, Young Master?"

"I don't have any money, so I won't compete with you," Chen Ping'an replied.

The man was overjoyed, and he said with a nod, "Then I'll accept your goodwill."

However, the old fox from West Mountain was unhappy with this result, and he forcefully slammed his wooden walking stick into the ground before raising two fingers and pointing at both Chen Ping'an and the man in ragged clothes, scolding, "I said just then, whichever one of you is richer is whichever one of you will become my son-in-law! There's not a drop of goodwill to be had! Young man wearing the bamboo hat, you were very generous with your immortal coins just then, and when I purposely tested your character, you passed all of my examinations with no issues. The only thing that's missing now is for you to do the deed with my daughter. You need to cherish this opportunity!

"If my daughter leaves with you, she'll most likely not need to worry about food and shelter for the rest of her life. She'll be able to wear extravagant clothes and jewelry, and perhaps she'll become even more of a noble lady than those female officials serving Meticulous Skin City's Fan Yunluo. As for that beggar, he's already been drinking the chilly wind here for quite a few months. I'm acutely aware of just how miserable and pathetic he is, and there's nothing more boastful in the world than his mouth. No, that won't do. My daughter was born to enjoy a good life, and she won't be able to endure any hardships. I definitely won't allow my precious daughter to jump into a fire pit!"

This was quite an eye-opening experience for Chen Ping'an. He had traveled all over the world during the past few years, and he had witnessed a mountain god's wedding ceremony, he had seen a fox spirit tricking a scholar, and had encountered a city god taking a mistress. However, he had never come across someone marrying off their daughter so carelessly.

The ordinary-looking man in ragged clothes appeared slightly exasperated as he said, "Father-in-law, I might not have any money on me — not even a single snowflake coin — and I won't be dishonest about this as your son-in-law. However, I genuinely made a huge deal before coming to Malicious Ghost Valley, and I was left with no option but to sell my minimization treasure as well as all of the immortal coins and immortal tools inside for a discounted price. However, I'm truly not a poor person."

The old fox was enraged, and he forcefully slammed his walking stick into the ground several times and yelled hysterically, "You're trying to trick me again! Piss the fuck off! These basic eyes of mine only care about money!"

Chen Ping'an retrieved a handful of snowflake coins and said, "These are all the immortal coins I have left on me."

The old fox appeared slightly sickly as he mumbled, "You always speak in a mysterious and roundabout manner, so I can't gauge whether you're telling the truth or not. However, this doesn't matter, and you're still a better choice than that beggar. It's decided — you're going to become my son-in-law! In the future, the bloodline of the fox tribe from West Mountain will be up to you to continue and spread. You need to put your waist into it while you're still young and strong.

"Oh, that's right. My daughter's maiden name is Wei Taizhen, and she also has a good-for-nothing younger brother called Wei Gaowu. We'll be one big family in the future, so remember to look after your brother-in-law in the future. When the three of you leave Malicious Ghost Valley together in the future, help him marry seventeen or eighteen celestial maidens if the opportunity arises..."

However, Chen Ping'an extended his hand toward the man in ragged clothes.